Dokapon Kingdom was originally released for PlayStation 2 and Wii, but the hybrid party board game is now making its way to Nintendo Switch. The premise is pretty simple, as players spin the roulette and defeat anyone that stands in their way forward. I never played the original game, but there’s something about the simplicity and adorable as of Dokapon Kingdom: Connect that draws me to it.
Dokapon Kingdom is a peaceful land where everyone loves money. One day, monsters appear and start attacking towns. The economy was destroyed, taxes weren’t being paid, and people were at their lowest. So the king decides to take action. He gathers only the bravest warriors to rescue these towns – not because he wants them to be happy, but because he wants his tax cash. The warrior who collects the most money will be “rewarded” with the throne and the Princess’ hand in marriage.
There are five game modes available: Normal, Story, Shopping Race, Kill Race, and Town Race. Kill Race sounds scary, but who doesn’t want to participate in a Shopping Race?! Players can now play against each other online, via Nintendo Switch Online. There are 11 possible job classes to chose from, then earn experience points to level up.
Today, Idea Factory International released an “Opening Movie” trailer:
So let’s discuss those 11 job classes, as new information about them was also just released. Before the start of the game, players can choose from three characters with standard jobs: Warrior, Magician, and Thief. At this point, players can also customize the colour of their outfits and their facial expressions. Each job has unique skills and abilities. The Warrior is for someone good with physical attacks and weapons. The Magician is able to cast high-powered spells. The Thief has God-level pickpocket skills.
As players progress and defeat monsters, their mastery stats will increase for the standard jobs. After meeting certain prerequisites (mastering the Warrior, for example) players can return to the castle and ask to change to an advanced job. The Alchemist produces items using magic. The Cleric helps others using holy powers. The Spellsword is a well-rounded fighter using both weapons and magic. The Monk has honed fighting skills, so their body is basically a weapon. The Acrobat can fool anyone. And The Ninja attacks quickly and quietly from the shadows. There are also four special jobs that can be unlocked with special items.
Developed by Idea Factory (Idea Factory International is the publisher), Compile Heart, and Sting, Dokapon Kingdom: Connect will be released for Nintendo Switch in Q2 2023 (or “Spring” for those in the Northern Hemisphere). It will be available physically and digitally.
